Automatic tube machine



Oct. 16, 1934. STOKES 1,977,413

AUTOMATI C TUBE MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet ,l

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rwrwsss; I I I/A/VEIWTOI? Patented Oct. 1 6, 1934 UNITED STAT S ATENE' OFFICE 10 Claims.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a tube machine with simple, efficient and reliable mechanism for satisfactorily performing the operations of, first, filling a I] progression of tubes without waste of material and accurately with the same quantity of material which, however, may be readily increased or diminished and which when changed will remain constant.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description. I

The invention will be claimed at the end hereof, but the following are features which characterize a machine embodying the invention: (a) Liftingof .the tube, when filling, onto the filling nozzleinplace of moving the filling nozzle down into the tube. (b) An'adjustable outlet valve in the discharge nozzle so that the time of discharge and cut-01f can be controlled. A by-passfor allowing excess material to escape back to the pump and not be discharged. In other words, a means of controlling the amount of discharge without having to accurately adjust the pumping mechanism. (d) An adjustment whereby the flow from the pump can be controlled both at the start and stop of the discharge.

In the following description reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which Figurel is an elevational view of so much and of such parts of a machine embodying features .of the invention as are necessary for an explanation of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of mechanism partially hidden in Fig. l.

. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View showing the turntable in plan and certain of the parts in section.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of the feeding mechanism shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away.

In the drawings 1 is a table having. step by step movement. For the sake of description it is shown as revolubleand moved in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. The table is shown as provided with a series of openings 2 having'passages i through the rim of the table. There is a discharge nozzle 5, Fig. Larranged inline with the openings 2. 6 is a reciprocatory lifter aligned with the nozzle 5 and arranged to work through said passages 4 and openings 2 to raise and lower the tubes in respect to the table 1, and to the nozzle 5. Guide 6' is connected to lifter 6 and slides over nozzle 5 on the upstroke and, on the down-stroke, aids in strip- (Cl. 226E437) ping the tube oi? the nozzle; '7, Fig. 2, is an outlet valve for the nozzle. 8 generally is an oscillating mechanism having a dwell between its oscillations and it is adapted when connected to the valve '7 to 'open and close the same. As 0 shown this mechanism includes a spool 9 afforded freedom of up and down motion on the spindle of the valve '7. The spindle of valve '1 is loosely guided in stationary guide 77. The circumferentially adjustable cam sections 10 on 5 the rotating disk 11 afford means for adjusting the'amplitude of the dwell in the motion of said oscillating mechanism and spool 9.

It will not be necessary to describe in detail all of the driving mechanism for actuating each '70. of the parts because those skilled in the art will understand such mechanism without detail description or further illustration. It may be said that 12 isa driving shaft which through gearing 13 drives the countershaft 14 on which the disk 11 is mounted.

21 is a pump connected with the nozzle and it is provided with a by-pass 22 for allowing excess material stopped by the cut off valve 7 to return to the inlet side of the pump. The lifters 6 and 8Q 19 and the ejector 20 are reciprocated and the cam followers 23 are a means for'doing that work. i

There is mechanism which prevents feed or emission at the nozzle 5 in the absence of a tube, and it will be described. 24 is a rod capable of turning motion about its axis and loosely guided in stationary guide 77, and it is provided with an arm 25 disposed in line withthe oncoming tubes and with apivotal arm v26, Figsjl and 3, adapted to be turned into position between the top heaolof the spool 9 and a collar 27, on the spring pressedstem of, the cut ofi valve 7, ,so

or projection 31 on the rod 24 in the following 1 way:

The arm 31 is in range of the swinging arm 29, and the swinging arm turns therod 24 sufiiciently to bring the arm 26 clear of the spool 9 and collar 27. If through some accident or inadvertence a tube is not present, the arm 25 is not turned, so that the arm 26 is not interposed 1 0 between the spool 9 and the collar 27, and thus the mechanism 8 may be lifted without opening the valve 7.

By way of explanation it may be said that substantially all of the described working parts are driven with an intermittent motion and that the movements are timed for the performance of the various operations in proper sequence.

The mode of operation may be described as follows:

Tubes 0 are supplied to the intermittently moving table 1 by placing them upon the seats 3,

Fig. 5. If there is no deficiency in the supply of tubes, the tubes as they progress turn the arm 25 and bring the arm 31 into range of the swinging arm 29 which turns the rod 24 in such manner that the arm 26 couples the spindle of the valve 7 to the mechanism 8 by which the valve is opened and held open long enough to put into a tube (lifted up onto the nozzle 5 by the lifter 6) the required quantity of material, and then the valve 7 is closed. Any material not discharged at the nozzle 5 is returned by the by-pass 22. The time of discharge and cut off of the valve '7 may be adjusted by setting the cam elements 10. If there is a deficiency in the supply of tubes the arm'25 is not turned.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates that modifications may be made in details of construction and arrangement and matters of mere form without the prior art and the appended claims may require.

I claim:

1. In an automatic tube filling machine the combination of a fixed filling nozzle, mechanism for lifting the tubes onto the filling nozzle, a pump for supplying the nozzle, means for oper ating the pump, and a by-pass from the outlet to the inlet side of the pump.

2. In an automatic tube filling machine a table having openings therein and passages through the rim thereof, a fixed nozzle arranged above and in line with the openings, and a lifting mechanism operative through the openings and passages for lifting tubes onto the nozzle.

3. In an automatic tube filling machine a discharge nozzle having a cut-off valve, a feed pump for the nozzle having a by-pass, mechanism adapted when connected to the valve to open and close it, and means interposed in the path of the tubes and actuated thereby to connect said valve and mechanism.

4. In an automatic tube filling machine the combination of a hopper for receiving the material to be placed in the tubes, a pump, an unobstructed communication between said hopper and said pump, a fixed filling nozzle having unobstructed communication with said pump, mechanism for lifting the tubes onto the filling nozzle, means for operating the pump, and a by- 1 pass from the outlet to the inlet side of the pump.

5. In an automatic tube filling machine the combination of a hopper for receiving the material to be fed to the tubes, a pump for feeding said material from said hopper to said tubes, a permanent unobstructed communication between said hopper and said pump, a fixed filling nozzle, a cut-off valve for said nozzle, mechanism adapted when connected to the valve to open and close it, and means interposed in the path of the tubesand actuated thereby to connect said valve and said mechanism.

6. In an automatic tube filling machine the combination of a hopper for receiving the material to be fed to the tubes, a pump for conveying said material from said hopper to the tube, a fixed filling nozzle connected to said pump, means for conveying a plurality of tubes past said nozzle, means for lifting one of said tubes onto said nozzle, a cut-ofi valve for said nozzle, means for actuating said cut-off valve when connected thereto, a rotatable shaft, an arm on said shaft in'the path of said tubes, a second arm on said shaft adapted to be moved by said first arm to connect said actuating means to said cut-ofi valve and means for restoring said first arm to position in the path of said tubes and for removing saidjsecond arm from connection with said actuating means and said valve.

'7. In an automatic tube filling machine, a hopper for receiving the material to be fed to a plurality of tubes, a pump for feeding said material from said hopper tosaid tubes, an unobstructed communication between said hopper and said pump, a fixed filling nozzle adapted to enter into each of said tubes successively, means for lifting each of said tubes successively onto said nozzle, a cut-off valve located in the outlet end of said nozzle, an unobstructed communication between said nozzle and said pump, a by-pass from the outlet to the inlet side of said pump, and means for actuating said cut-off valve.

' 8. In an automatic tube-filling machine, the combination of, means for supplying material to be fed into the tubes,a permanently fixed filling nozzle, a permanently unobstructed communication between said means and said nozzle, mechanism for lifting the tubes in succes- I20 sion onto the filling nozzle, a valve located within and co-operating with the outlet end of said nozzle, and means for adjusting the time of opening and closing of said valve.

9.'In an automatic tube-filling machine, the combination of, a feed pump for applying pressure to material-to be fed into the tubes, a permanently fixed filling nozzle, a permanently unobstructed communication between said pump and said nozzle, a cut-off valve located within 3130 and co-operating with the outlet end of said nozzle, and mechanism for opening and closing said valve.

10. In an automatictube-filling machine, the combination of, a feed pump for applying pressure to material to be fed into the tubes, 2. permanently fixed filling nozzle, a permanently unobstructed communication between said pum 

